Storage system and management method thereof

• US 20080208927A1
• Filed: 01/09/2008
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kumasawa, Hiroyuki, Uryuu, Masanobu, Chikusa, Takashi, Saitou, Kenichi, Yamaura, Satoru
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,551 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/128 Details of file system snapshots on the file-level, e.g. snapshot creation, administration, deletion use of snapshots for error detection or correction G06F11/14, G06F11/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

One or more storage controllers include a folder configuration unit for configuring a plurality of folders to store the plurality of contents in the plurality of logical volumes, a core-contents management unit for specifying and managing core-contents to become the core from the plurality of contents to be stored in the plurality of logical volumes or the plurality of folders, a related contents management unit for managing the core-contents and one or more related contents associated with a part or the whole of the core-contents from a plurality of contents to be stored in the plurality of logical volumes or the plurality of folders, and a group folder configuration unit for configuring a group folder that groups the core-contents and the related contents across the plurality of logical volumes or the plurality of folders.

Claims

1. A storage system having one or more storage controllers for forming a plurality of logical volumes in a storage area of a physical device for storing a plurality of contents provided from a host system,

wherein said one or more storage controllers comprise:

a folder configuration unit for configuring a plurality of folders to store said plurality of contents in said plurality of logical volumes;

a core-contents management unit for specifying and managing core-contents to become the core from said plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders;

a related contents management unit for managing said core-contents and one or more related contents associated with a part or the whole of said core-contents from a plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders; and

a group folder configuration unit for configuring a group folder that groups said core-contents and said related contents across said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders.

2. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein said group folder configuration unit forms a virtual folder for performing grouping;

and

wherein said core-contents and said related contents arranged in said virtual folder are associated with a plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of folders created with said folder configuration unit, or said plurality of logical volumes.

3. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein, when said related contents management unit changes the management information managing the association of said core-contents and said related contents, the association of said related contents stored in said group folder is changed.

4. The storage system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of contents are a plurality of files;

and

wherein said core-contents management unit specifies and manages a core file by searching said core file based on the contents information sent from said host system.

5. The storage system according to claim 1, further comprising a nearline volume for storing contents among said plurality of logical volumes with a low access count from said host system,

wherein said nearline volume comprises a snapshot folder for storing, as needed, information of said group folder at an arbitrary point in time;

and

wherein information concerning said group folder with a low access frequency from said host system is preferentially selected and stored among information of a plurality of said group folders stored in said snapshot folder.

6. A management method of a storage system having one or more storage controllers for forming a plurality of logical volumes in a storage area of a physical device for storing a plurality of contents provided from a host system,

wherein said one or more storage controllers perform:

a folder creation step for forming a plurality of folders to store said plurality of contents in said plurality of logical volumes;

a core-contents management step for specifying and managing core-contents to become the core from said plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders;

a related contents management step for managing said core-contents and one or more related contents associated with a part or the whole of said core-contents from a plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders; and

a group folder creation step for forming a group folder that groups said core-contents and said related contents across said plurality of logical volumes or said plurality of folders.

7. The management method of a storage system according to claim 6, wherein at said group folder creation step, a virtual folder for performing grouping is created;

and

wherein said core-contents and said related contents arranged in said virtual folder are associated with a plurality of contents to be stored in said plurality of folders created with said folder configuration unit, or said plurality of logical volumes.

8. The management method of a storage system according to claim 6, wherein at said related contents management step, when the management information managing the association of said core-contents and said related contents is changed, the association of said related contents stored in said group folder is changed.

9. The management method of a storage system according to claim 6, wherein said plurality of contents are a plurality of files;

and

wherein at said core-contents management step, a core file is specified and managed by said core file being searched based on the contents information sent from said host system.

10. The management method of a storage system according to claim 6, wherein said storage system further comprises a nearline volume for storing contents among said plurality of logical volumes with a low access count from said host system;

wherein said nearline volume comprises a snapshot folder for storing, as needed, information of said group folder at an arbitrary point in time; and

wherein information concerning said group folder with a low access frequency from said host system is preferentially selected and stored among information of a plurality of said group folders stored in said snapshot folder.